I would like to know if there is a life-time max for a helmet???

I got a helmet which was used a few times before I got it but is over 5 years old?
It's in great condition, but last time I was in cycle gear the guy there told me that I should get a new helmet because my helmet is too old???

Any input from you guys will be appriciated!!!

 

5 years is what I have always heard as well.

5 year old helmet is better then no helmet at all.

 

so do I need to replace this one??? i just got it a few months ago..... [:@]

what could be bad with a helmet that's older then 5 years???

 

The manufacture claims that the materials used to make the helmetare degrading and after 5 years donot offering the same protection as they did when it was new.

Some would say BS but I have always gotten a new helmet every few years. I do not want to be the proof that the manufacture is correct.

Its up to you on the new helmet, I say get one as son as you can afford one. JMO

 

Thanks for looking OUT!!!

 

I did a quick search on MSF, they did not list how often to replace a helmet but they talked about the inner lining degrading with age and after an impact. (invisible to the eye to detect). So maybe there is some merit to the every 5 yr replacement. I am not sure.

 

ok, here is what i got back from Shoei.....

--------------------------------------------------------------

The production date on the helmet should be underneath the line. A helmet
should be replaced 5
years from date of purchase or 7 years from date of manufacture, whichever comes
first. Glues,
resins and other materials used in helmet production can affect liner materials.
Hair oils, body
fluids and cosmetics, as well as normal "wear and tear" all contribute to helmet
degradation.
Petroleum based products present in; cleaners, paints, fuels and other commonly
encountered
materials may also degrade materials used in many helmets possibly reducing
performance. The EPS
(Expanded Polystyrene) inside helmets is much like concrete in that it is always
curing, which
results in the EPS hardening and shrinking. As a result, gaps form between the
shell and the EPS,
and the EPS becomes less able to manage the energy created in an impact
situation. When the shell
breaks down, it becomes brittle, making it less likely to be able to hold up
properly when
subjected to significant impacts. Additionally, experience indicates there will
be a noticeable
improvement in the protective characteristic of helmets over a five-year period
due to advances in
materials, designs, production methods and the standards.

Best Regards,

Shoei Safety Helmet Corp
Jesse Cisneros
Jesse@Shoei.com
(714) 730-0941 ext 102

 

Nice going kali. Thanks for the info

 

Yeah Thanks Kali. I also heard that if you drop your helmet it is good to replace it as well. This is due to some of the material compacting more in that one spot and not absorbing the energy or something lke that. Just what I heard though.

 

I heard that you will have to change out the cheek pads once in a while, but I never heard of replacing the helmet. But then again they used to wear leather helmets when playing football so I guess replacing it every few years would be right. I got a brand new Scorpion helmet, but I look goofy riding my KLX around town with it, so I'll stick to my MX helmet.